Bills Beat Blog

By Joe Buscaglia

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Bills sign fifth-round pick Richardson

by Joe Buscaglia,posted May 23 2014 1:50PM

As is the increasing trend in the National Football League since the onset of the rookie wage scale in 2011, the Buffalo Bills are getting their rookie contracts out of the way sooner rather than later. The Bills announced on Friday afternoon that they've signed fifth-round pick and guard Cyril Richardson to his initial four-year contract.

A 6-foot-5, 343-pound offensive lineman from Baylor, Richardson started in 42 games over his four-year career. At one point in the draft process, he was projected to be a potential Day Two selection but fell to the fifth round during the actual 2014 NFL Draft.

Richardson is the fifth of the Bills' seven-man rookie class to sign their initial deals with the team. He joins third-round linebacker Preston Brown, fourth-round cornerback Ross Cockrell, seventh-round linebacker Randell Johnson and seventh-round offensive tackle Seantrel Henderson as the players to sign.

Only first-round wide receiver Sammy Watkins and second-round offensive tackle Cyrus Kouandjio have yet to sign their rookie deals with the Bills.